Kuldhara is an abandoned village about 18 kilometres southwest of Jaisalmer. The Paliwal Brahmin community that built it in the 13th century lived here for over five centuries before leaving, apparently overnight, in 1825. They left their houses intact, their wells open, and their village plan visible — and have never returned. The ruins are well preserved in the dry desert climate and the Archaeological Survey of India has done some restoration work on the more prominent structures.
Walking through Kuldhara is genuinely eerie. The streets are still laid out in their original grid, the house walls stand to head height or above, and you can make out the layouts of individual rooms, courtyards, and storage areas. The water management system — channels, cisterns, and wells — is still visible across the site. A small museum near the entrance has artefacts found during excavation and some explanatory panels on the Paliwal Brahmin community.
The village is best visited as part of a longer day out that includes other sites in the desert to the west. Admission is charged by the Archaeological Survey. Come in the morning before the day gets hot; the site is exposed and there is little shade.